Glands
Glands
• Holocrine (sebaceous): cells accumulate product continuously as they enlarge and undergo
terminal differentiation, culminating in complete cell disruption which releases the product and
cell debris into the gland’s lumen.
Nature Of Secretory Products.
• Exocrine glands secretion is categorized based on the nature of their secretory products into
serous or mucous.
• Serous cells synthesize proteins (mostly not glycosylated; digestive enzymes)--- well-
developed RER and Golgi complexes and are filled apically with secretory granules in
different stages of maturation---stain intensely with basophilic or acidophilic stains.
• Mucous cells filled apically with secretory granules contain heavily glycosylated proteins
called mucins (when released from the cell---become hydrated and form a layer of mucus)--
-hydrophilic mucins are usually washed from cells during routine histological preparations,
causing the secretory granules to stain poorly.
Nature Of Secretory Products
• Some salivary glands are mixed seromucous glands, having both serous acini and mucous
tubules
• Myoepithelial cells: contractile at the basal ends of the secretory cells. Long processes of these
cells embrace an acinus. Are rich in actin and myosin filament--- strong contractions serve to
propel secretory products from acini into the duct system.
Merocrine Apocrine Holocrine
Serous and Mucous Secretory Cells
Myoepithelial Cells
• In exocrine glands only